How My Guinea Pigs Saved My Life

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anniedabannie

anniedabannie

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I'm quite new to this forum but I have a story I think all you lovely people will understand :)

I have been suffering with major depression for quite a long time, but have recently started feeling better thanks to my two furry best friends!

A few days before my 16th birthday, I made an attempt on my own life and honestly felt there was no point in going on any more. It seemed to my melodramatic mind that nothing was going right, and in the weeks after my attempt I struggled to eat, sleep or keep up friendships. I even struggled to keep myself clean :P (though I wouldn't have said that was all that abnormal for teenagers)

I lost a lot. My grades at school fell, my best friend said I was too hard to deal with and even my mum got to a point where she said she felt like she was walking on eggshells with me.

Then eventually I won the ongoing 'discussion', and managed to convince my parents to let me have two guinea pigs in my bedroom :D

After they got home, for a while I thought I'd made a huge mistake and was doing a bad job looking after them. They soon settled in though and now I can't imagine life without them :)

And without them, I'm not entirely sure I'd be here saying this, because there have been times during recovery where I've felt like giving up again but then Poldark or Sage will come up to the bars and wheek at me and I know I can't go anywhere just yet because my boys need their veg xD

But anyway. Sod antidepressants. Guinea pigs are better than fluoxetine any day <3

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Massive hugs for you!
:hug: :hug:

Your piggies are gorgeous by the way! :luv:
 
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massive hugs :hug: i can totally relate to this as i feel the same... without the pets i dread to think where i would be now. still struggle immensely with mental health issues but having the pets just makes it worth pushing through, whereas without them, i don't know if i'd have the strength or even want to try. they're amazing! :luv::luv::luv:
 
I'm so sorry to hear you have been through all of this - and I am delighted to hear your guinea pigs have helped you to turn things around. They are gorgeous.
 
:luv::yahoo:It's amazing what an animal can do to aid in recovery of ppl, there's an animal for whatever ails you, I'm so glad your piggies helped you and I'm also sorry you had to go through all that, atleast tho it's behind you now and you've got two new reasons not to give up, I also suffer from depression so I understand your pain. You can do you can do it :yahoo::luv:
 
Aww that's lovely, I'm glad your guinea pigs have helped you through such a difficult time. I have felt the same and my animals always make me feel better. I have suffered from depression and anxiety on and off for years so you're not alone :-) I am on fluoxetine but it gives me a dodgy belly hehe :-) if you ever want to talk feel free to pm me. x
 
You're all so sweet :roll: thank you everyone, I knew you'd understand! My friends all laughed at me when I said that my boys had basically saved my life. They don't see how guinea pigs can be so important... I'm also on fluoxetine, but I'm fairly convinced that the piggles are what have truly made it easier to handle ! :xd: x
 
I suffer from several health problems which have caused me depression, I often wonder why I continue to struggle on. But now I have the guinea pigs relying on me I have to get up in the morning and I have to shop for their food, they are so lovely and trusting. I understand exactly how you feel your guineas have saved your life. Sending you a big hug from me, Spike and Peanut.
 
What a moving story and well done to you for battling a horrible illness with the help of your beautiful piggies. You are so brave to share your feelings. Keep focusing on them piggies to help you get through your dark moments. Guinea pigs are the sweetest little animals and they will bring you so much joy :roll:
 
Thanks for sharing. The love of an animal is a powerful thing.
 
Depression is horrible. I had it through child-hood and throughout my teens. Although I didn't make an attempt I struggled not to. With me it was the thoughts of my parents crying that stopped me from doing it. I kept mice - they helped me. I had to be responsible for them, and I was. I cared for them and gave them free-time around my room each evening and it was therapeutic for sure.
So yes I understand how these wonderful furry-friends can lift a person up and onto the road to recovery.

Massive hugs to you. Recovery can take some determination, and there will be ups and downs, but don't give up hun x
 
So glad your two handsome furballs are helping you through your tough time :)
Keep fighting it, they need a happy healthy slave to look after them ;)
Well done so far. The girls &I. Xx
 
Thank you all again for being so so supportive and lovely :)
I was having a low patch yesterday while Poldark and Sage were having their exercise time in my room, and it's like they knew... They both came over and Sage lay down next to me while Pol started licking my fingers. Maybe it was just coincidence but I like to think they have some incredible ability to know when to comfort their humans XD
It's really comforting to hear I'm not alone in this, so thankyou everyone who has said they can relate or that they get it without feeling the need to pass judgement or try to give me advice! :)

Lots of love, Annie Pol and Sage xx
 
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When any of my pigs have been ill, one particular pig has been there with them to comfort them. She is the head of the herd, but very gentle and loving indeed with any pig under the weather. They can sense stress in each other, so perhaps they can sense it in people?
People give out a different scent when stressed/upset, and it is certainly possible that guinea pigs can pick this up and some of them certainly have a desire to comfort those in need that they bond with. I do believe that guinea pigs feel deep affection for the pigs AND humans that they bond with, and it's very likely that your piggy was genuinely concerned about you.
Sorry you were feeling low yesterday.

When I was in my teens, as I say, I suffered depression deeply, and I used to wonder how my life would go if I continued to live, and it felt daunting. However, when I left school I decided to be open to potentially good experiences, just in case they worked out, and some things did. When you leave school it's a whole different world and you have greater control over who you associate with, and the direction of your life in general. Even if you have a snotty boss and bitchy co-workers you can look for another job and move on. You can't at school. I could ramble on about examples, but life has a potential to greatly improve for you. I wondered if I would escape the bad memories, but time IS a great healer, especially when better things come into your life to take your focus.
So I'm not trying to give you advice, it's just that I want you to know that there is hope, and things do indeed change. :hug:
 
Guinea pigs are defiantly the best medicine! :luv:

I remember when my parents divorced. I was so upset I didn't know what to do. I'd just sit there with my boy and cuddle him. If I went to put him back he'd scramble further up into my neck for more cuddles. I could tell him anything. It sounds stupid now but it really helped. His little face manage to brighten even the darkest days. They really are incredible little creatures.


I hope you're doing better and :wel: to the guinea world. You're officially a slave to the wheeky ones. No escaping now! :hug:
 
I've got two more extremely good reasons to stick around now! Indeed being a slave is strangely therapeutic... :roll:

Having Poldark and Sage makes me excited about the future and when I can buy my own house and have whole guinea pig rooms with lots of rescue guinea pigs! I want to volunteer at RSPCA centres and just get on and do nice things.

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We had a nice snuggle last night and then we all fell asleep so I woke up this morning with quite a lot of poop in my bed, but hey-ho, I think they liked it so I might do it again tonight :yahoo:
 
((HUGS.)) I live with depression myself, I know firsthand it's not ways. I'm glad the pigs are therapeutic for you. There's something about the unconditional love we get from animals that can touch a special place in our hearts.
 
Such an inspirational story. I also live on a combination of pills and pigs. Guineas are great to talk to, and I am convinced they sense unhappiness. I remember having a really bad day when Mozzy Bear was little, and I picked him up for a fuss and for once he didn't bite me, which was a little miracle. I really felt like he understood.
Your piggies are beautiful, and must be pretty well behaved if they slept in your bed and you woke up still with a full head of hair! I took a rare trip to the hairdressers last year and they said, "Oh my God, who cut your hair?" I was like, "the guinea pig..."
 
You are honest and brave and very lucky to have 2 such gorgeous piggies. I'm sure many of us on here enjoy the health benefits of being a piggy slave. Their dependence on us is something positive to focus on. Long may you enjoy them. BTW love the names.
 
I wanted to comment to say that I am also in a similar situation (not wanting to hurt my parents one of the only reasons I am still here) so I understand where you're coming from, and a combination of pills and piggies help me get through the day.

I still have down days (today being one of them) but I know things will always get better. It's great you shared your story, and I love the photo of you and your piggies :) I also think posting on here helps, especially looking at piggy pictures. They always make me smile cause they're so cute!

Animals are very therapeutic, and I am so glad I was encouraged to get guinea pigs.
 
What a lovely story and one I can totally relate to.

I suffer from agoraphobia and social anxiety and the piggies are amazing help to me. With them I have to force myself to go shopping once a week with my mother so they have food. I've sat crying over loneliness and having no friends and I remember one time I was cleaning out Ludwig and Gilbert sitting there crying and Romano came running over and stood up on his hind legs reaching forward to me. He knew I was upset and I felt ever so grateful to him.

They are such special sweet animals.
 
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